I’m cooking a new recipe this morning, Lord help my love handles. But first, I’d like to give you a peek inside the fun that is the world of Asian snack items.

I have an internet friend—that phrase still scares my grandma—who has a website called Asian Aisle. Cindy doesn’t sell anything on her site; all she does is showcase and discuss individual Asian foods she finds at Asian markets in the American city where she lives.

Because she knew I was intrigued, Cindy recently sent me (okay, my four kids) a bounty of Asian snack foods.

I don’t know what the reason is—childhood obsession with Hello Kitty, perhaps?—but I’m completely charmed by this stuff. The packaging is especially fun. These bottles of colorful, sweet drinks are sealed tightly with a marble just under the rim. To open them, you have to press firmly on the marble to release it—then it clangs around inside the top chamber of the bottle as you consume the drink.

It’s like when Billy Crystal places the helmet that makes great fries on Meg Ryan’s head in “When Harry Met Sally” and she looks at him and asks, “Why is this necessary in life?”

I had no idea what these were.

But I…ahem, I mean…my children ripped right into the package.

Mmm. Little cookies with little images “printed” on the surface.

They turned out to be feather-light cookies with a really soft, creamy filling inside. And they were so small, I went ahead and ate 300 of them and hardly felt full at all!

I haven’t tried them yet, but there are also these.

And these. I give ‘em 24 hours, tops.

My baby laid claim to this one right away.

Oh dear. I don’t like the looks of this.

Oh my.

Oh no.

And now I need to discuss these.

They’re from the devil. I’ve gone through almost all of them already.

I can’t really describe them—they’re sort of like Starburst Fruit Chews, but they have a much different texture. They’re cleaner, too, and don’t seem to coat your mouth as you chew them.

Mango is my favorite. I’m addicted!

Speaking of evil things that must be destroyed. These are to be avoided at all cost.

The outside is a colored, smooth chocolate.

But INSIDE is a fruity, gummy center. My gosh, but these are good.

And then there are these.

Can someone please explain to me why I suddenly find Gobstoppers very boring?

Do you like jerky? I like jerky. I like this jerky. It’s very, very sweet, which I love.

And it’s very thin—so thin it’s almost translucent. Did you ever imagine jerky could be…pretty?

Dried mango! Finally—something healthy.

And finally, this yummy package of instant noodles. My first inclination was to save this for Mike. This is his favorite type of convenience food.

But I knew it would ruin Top Ramen for him forever.

My next objective is actually figuring out the application for these Asian food items in my life on the ranch. I’m definitely going to order some (Cindy says Amazon.com has a great selection) and make a huge basket for my sister for her birthday this year.

Beyond that, I’m going to need some sort of subscription to the fruit chew things to ensure a lifelong, steady supply.

628 Comments

Tanis On Thursday, June 25 at 9:25 am

oh great ANOTHER snack I’m sure I’d love – BTW – we buy the dried mango at Costco – it is fabulous and recently chopped up some put it into a cheesecake filling an became the goddess of desserts that week!

Darlyne On Thursday, June 25 at 9:33 am

When I saw the title of your post on my blog…I thought it was going to be a post + a picture of your husband! I was highly disappointed…he is a cutie…and definite eye candy. Then again…so is mine! I found a few older pics of my husband that give me butterflies and I have been thinking of posting them. I will have to do that soon – and I may steal your title!

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Tiffany On Thursday, June 25 at 9:35 am

You have to try pocky, it’s so much better than the yan yan. Chocolate is great but you can also get dessert pocky which is so rich but oh so good. They have strawberry banana, double chocolate, orange chocolate. Though they are available less in the summer from Japan due to the melting factor.

I just don’t know how anyone can completely give up sugar and still be happy! These pictures bring back memories of our daily after school trip to the candy store where we gladly parted with a quarter for a handful of goodies to eat while we walked home.
These candies look terrific!
Suehttp://www.booksaroundtheclock.wordpress.com

Julie On Thursday, June 25 at 9:39 am

My baby girl spent 4 years taking Japanese and now that she’s a college girl, and so happy to enlighten me, she brings home many, many colorful and strange snack foods with ‘Hello Kitty’ type packaging. I jkeep her grounded by telling her sugar is sugar is sugar no matter what part of the world you come from.

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Mirai On Thursday, June 25 at 9:40 am

I LOVE Ramune-soda!!! You need some sorta technique to drink that sucker. You have to somehow move the marble underneath where it gets narrow, so it won’t block you from drinking. I don’t know why, but I was obsessed with getting that marble out when I was a kid. Poor dad, had to get the plastic part off and get it out. Now that I think about it, it probably would’ve been faster if we broke the bottle itself… enjoy all the sweet goodness!!!

My son went to Japan when he was in high school with his football team and came home with some of the fruit chews. It was one of the few things he brought home. He loved them and shared a few of them with the rest of us but they were a prized candy…

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Shanelle On Thursday, June 25 at 9:43 am

What, no Pocky? Try the royal tea flavor (NOT the green tea). Ohhh, it is groan-inducing delicious.

The fruit chews look like Bonkers. Remember Bonkers? Giant fruit would fall on people in the commercial. I loved them as a kid.

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lilly On Thursday, June 25 at 9:47 am

Amazon? Did you just say Amazon? Oh boy, I’m in trouble and my wallet is going to be very empty in the next few hours!

I’m asian and growing up, my parents need to drive 4 hours to LA to bring all these goodies home. My mom will stock up on all things asian and the car was so stuff you couldn’t fit a thoothpick in it! The beef or pork jerky are the best! Have you tried dry squid? It’s a delicious snack! Oh and the Pocky chocolate almond covered biscuits cookies? Mmmmm! Oh, the dry noodles are great as long as you don’t use all the seasonings at once because they are full of sodium! Enjoy and welcome to my sweet world!

I agree with #35 – the Japanese rice crackers are awesome. My local health food store sells them in bulk. Wasabi peas are good, too! The other thing I love are these rice candies my dad brought back – they have a cellophane on them that is also made of rice, and you can pop the whole thing in your mouth. The cellophane will melt, and the candy tastes awesome!

so fun. i love going to world market and finding new candies. last weekend i found a candy call chocorooms which are little chocolate capped mushrooms (the stems are some kind of cookie) – yum! been eating them all week:)

My mom is totally addicted to an Asian snack food that can only be described as banana flavored cheese puffs. She loads up whenever she goes to our local “Korea” town. And you just know the store clerks are giggling as she leaves the store!

How fun is that?! The packaging is way more interesting than American candy. And for the record…I adore Hello Kitty..still. And, also for the record, I remember when it first came out. I’m OG! Or OLD. Take your pick!

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Jennifer O from Chicago On Thursday, June 25 at 9:51 am

Neoguri Ramyun noodles are my favorite! Try them with a little scrambled egg (drizzle them in kinda like egg drop soup) and chopped green onion or if you’re not in a chopping mood just add 2 slices of American cheese (one in the middle and one on top) and you’re all set. YUMMY!!!! I am gonna have to get me some after work today!

Heather Gocke On Thursday, June 25 at 9:57 am

I love to visit food stores when I travel – either in the US or internationally. People make fun of me, but I love to sample and photograph all of the different foods – and food packaging – it’s fascinating! I try to document as much of that on my travel blog as I can:

Nancy On Thursday, June 25 at 9:58 am

Wow, Ree, how lucky you and your kids are to get to sample all of these different candies and treats. My most favorite thing to do when I was a child was go to the candy store(that was called a 5 and dime) with my allowance (which wasn’t much) and buy new and different candy and try it out and see if I liked it or not. I always liked chocolate of course, and my most favorite was cinnamon of any kind.
I love candy still, but have more than love handles now and try and stay away from it. Sometimes I indulge and eat some cinnamon bears!

sleepphl On Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 am

Try Pocky! They are great. Whenever I travel to Asia, I bring back as many odd items as possible. The family can’t wait to try it.

And one of our family’s Xmas traditions is for my husband to get the oddest assortment of Asian market items that he can find (spicy dried fish with the heads on) and everyone has to try it. He also does the same for boutique chocolates which he gets from artisan chocolate websites. Yum!

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Suzy On Thursday, June 25 at 10:01 am

Love the packaging but I wouldn’t trust the content of these foods for myself or my family.

Made in the USA means a lot!

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Joy Dexter On Thursday, June 25 at 10:01 am

I’ve lived in China for 7 years, and have seen a few of these things here, but they mostly look Japanese. You’re TOTALLY missing out on the pork floss, dried jelly fish, and spicy minnows. And no moon cakes? I do have to agree about Pocky (love the dark chocolate) and Pejoy (kind of like Pocky, but chocolate or tiramisu inside, instead of outside). They’re my favorites. Oh, and Pretz! Avoid the shrimp and corn varieties, and go for pizza or salad flavored. Yum!

I LOVE the Hello Pandas; I’m a huge fan of asian food stores. The one closest to us makes tea for you when you visit; I love the ginger tea with the orange marmalade. There’s a bataan rice candy there that’s to die for. It’s not real pretty looking, but I love the taste; fruity, but with a strange texture… I’m going there today! I can’t stand it anymore!

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Kristine On Thursday, June 25 at 10:08 am

I second (& 3rd & 4th…) everyone who has mentioned the individual fruit jello shots. They’re so fun! And I love lychee…

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Dandy On Thursday, June 25 at 10:08 am

I love those treats!

I’m lucky enough to live close to a big asian store that has all those treats. And I love walking around, looking at the packages and guessing what they really are

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Kathy On Thursday, June 25 at 10:08 am

Another favorite – white rabbits….try ‘em

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Donna On Thursday, June 25 at 10:11 am

They look yummy!

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Jennifer B On Thursday, June 25 at 10:11 am

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Hello Pandas, second the suggestion on the Pocky sticks. I too love the “Men’s” Pocky best because of the dark chocolate.

My other fave treat are the little mushroom shaped treats – the cap is chocolate, the stem is a biscuit/cookie of some sort.

My closest supermarket is a cross between Whole Foods and an Asian grocery, and they carry lots of these things. And I lived in Japan and Korea for 7 years as a kid, so this stuff brings back lots of memories for me.

The “Lamune” lemonade drink in the fish shaped bottle does so because in the past they would re-use the bottles and that marble was part of the seal. Not sure how they did it, but they switched to the plastic cap (that can be unscrewed to get the marble out now) because too many kids were smashing the bottles to get to the marble.

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Sarah Jo On Thursday, June 25 at 10:11 am

Next time, ask her to send the fruit filled marshmallows.
It’s a marshmallow outside with a…..not chewy….almost
jam filled center. They make all different flavors. My kids like the strawberry but I favor the orange, which remind me
of creamsicles in an off way.

I have a huge Asian Market near me. I have to go now! I have had those Yan Yan and they are really fun and yummy.

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Raqs On Thursday, June 25 at 10:12 am

I am a filipina and my husband is american. he loves the dried mangoes. my mom always sends some to him although you can get that same barand from costco. aside from that I like the chocolate hello panda and of course yan yan chocolate too…

256

Nicole On Thursday, June 25 at 10:12 am

They have TONS of this stuff @ my local Borders bookstore.

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kate k On Thursday, June 25 at 10:13 am

Everything down to the jerky are Japanese snack foods. The marble is in the Ramune bottle so the fiz doesn’t leak out. Cool huh? It was always my favorite drink growing up. There is even a Ramune flavored meltaway type candy. Soooooo goooood!!!! When it come to snack food, I think Japan has better ones than the US. You’ve not even scratched the surface. Happy hunting!

Looking at all the pictures of the great candy makes me want to drive downtown and spend $50 over my lunch break today! Oh, wait, I have to wait until payday tomorrow. Ok, I’ll go tomorrow!

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Kristen On Thursday, June 25 at 10:13 am

I’m a particular fan of Japanese snack foods – there are so many interesting ones! And they’re all so good!

Girl, funny story, last night as I was walking down the asian aisle of the grocery store with my 6 year old he just had to have something I had never paid any attention to before. “Pocky” It was a box with long biscuit type sticks, sort of looks like the ones you received, with strawberry cream around the outside. (I’m getting to the point) At home we opened them and, WOW, we are definatley going to add these to the next grocery list, I think I’ll try the chocolate ones also.

261

Tina On Thursday, June 25 at 10:17 am

In Japan, they have shops similar to our Sweet Factory, that has bins full of dehydrated fish! They eat dehydrated fish like candy.

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Jody On Thursday, June 25 at 10:17 am

My husband is an American of Japanese decent, we go to the Japanese stores in San Jose an buy all this kind of stuff and more! Very yummy stuff indeed. Oh and do try the Pocky Sticks, they are so good, oh and the ginger cookie things are to die for.

Hey…..what happened to the “Botan Rice Candy”???!!!! NO FORAY INTO THE ASIAN CANDY WORLD IS COMPLETE WITHOUT IT!!! I REPEAT…BOTAN RICE CANDY!! Being half Japanese myself makes me somewhat of an expert…

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carrie On Thursday, June 25 at 10:18 am

Stay away from fruit chew, down right dangerous. Once you start, you can go through ten tubes in just few minutes.

Kasey On Thursday, June 25 at 10:21 am

I love those little Panda cookies, but my favorite thing is crushed almond Pocky (with the chocolate coating.) Soooo good! We like to raid the Asian food market for cute snacks.

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Stephanie S On Thursday, June 25 at 10:25 am

The soda is my fav!! (you can find it at World MArket, which I am sure you have very close to you!)

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windsor On Thursday, June 25 at 10:25 am

I am familiar with all of these delicious Asian treat. Cost Plus Imports sells most of these treats

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becky A On Thursday, June 25 at 10:26 am

I work with International Students, and they bring all sorts of fun things in to work. I am also addicted to the Hi-Chews! Their texture is to die for, and even after eating the whole package, you don’t feel like you’ve eaten the whole package…know what I mean? Glad you are enjoying your Asian treats!

That ramen is the best ever. A lady at work brings it to me because I too afraid of the parking lot at our local Asian market to get it myself.

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Juju On Thursday, June 25 at 10:30 am

OMG
How funny!
I’m obsessed by this stuff too.
Every time I pass it in a store I want to buy it all and have a sample fest!
Maybe I’ll do this some day.

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Kristy On Thursday, June 25 at 10:33 am

Looks yummy! I love hearing about things from other places that we don’t have. I belong to a message board community that every once in a while does a ‘snack exchange’ by pairing up people from different countries, and they send their partner a box loaded full of local goodies.

As a former resident of Japan and as momma to a Chinese-American daughter, I LOVED this post. But I’m really commenting because you should instead use the phrase “imaginary friend” with your grandma, rather than internet friend. Because that’s less scary. Or maybe not. Unless you are four years old.

I lived in Korea for a Year, and let me tell you, their food and snacks are sooooo delish! Eat and enjoy girlie!

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Judy Woodworth On Thursday, June 25 at 10:36 am

I grew up with all of this stuff, makes sense because I’m Asian. The best thing is reading what’s printed on some of the packages. Hilarious! My sister and I were in Japan and walked around taking pictures of everything they had written in English, real random off the wall sayings that they just think looked really cool but were so over the top funny. People looked at us like we were nuts. Check out http://www.engrish.com for a real laugh!

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Michele On Thursday, June 25 at 10:37 am

I don’t know about your Yan Yan, but every kind I’ve ever seen has cheddar cheese in it! Check out the label if you somehow managed to keep some around (or just Google “Yan Yan nutrition facts”); it’s deliciously disturbing.

Oh my, what a lovely gift!! Those candies look adorable and fun to eat. I really like mochi candy, especially when they top plain frozen yogurt, yum!
-kristen

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Andrea On Thursday, June 25 at 10:38 am

Your post is bringing back all sorts of memories of our time living in Japan. The hi-chews are my favorite and the fun part was finding them in new flavors all around Japan. For instance, I could only get the cantelope flavor in Sapporo. Japan is famous for it’s “local specialty” souvenir shopping. There was also a cracker called Asparagus sticks that were addictive. I’ve seen the hi-chews stateside in Asian food markets. I would also check your local Cost Plus World Market. They have the koala cookies and the gummies.

I’m living in Korea currently and this is the first time that I’ve seen many of these packages with English writing, instead of Korean.

We get most of them here too, and they’re awfully tasty!

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April On Thursday, June 25 at 10:41 am

Almond crush pocky… We spent six years in Japan and would go back in a second. They have the best snack foods. Not only do they taste yummy, never too sweet, but they are FUN! Caramel corn puffs… can’t remember the name..

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Terri from OK On Thursday, June 25 at 10:42 am

Ditto on the Super Cao Nguyen in OKC. That is where we get the crawfish for our church’s annual crawfish boil and I and my kids could wander around in there for hours. PW, you need to take your kids on a field trip!

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Cathleen On Thursday, June 25 at 10:42 am

The HiChews you have are the ones specifically for the US market, but I prefer the Japanese ones. They’re slightly bigger and taste way better, imho. Here’s a link if you’re interested:

Adrienne On Thursday, June 25 at 10:43 am

i use to live on long island, and every sunday, my family go into queens for food shopping (i’m chinese american). my mother usually let us get one snack each and i would spend a good 30 min trying to decide which one item i wanted – there were just so many, they were all so good and the packaging was dizzying!

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Joanna On Thursday, June 25 at 10:43 am

I’m a nanny for 3 girls that are half Japanese, half caucasian (European mix of sorts.) Not only are they the most beautiful children on the face of the planet, but they’re so adventurous with their food, thanks to great influences from their parents.

I regularly make trips to the Asian market to pick up specialty items for the house. My girls LOVE all of those snacks, as well as Pocky’s which are my favorite- try the Green Tea ones and the Strawberry. They also pick up these little packages of sweet bread balls that hang next to the checkout. I have no idea what they’re called, but my kids are addicted!

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Patty On Thursday, June 25 at 10:44 am

You seem to be on a sugar high as you write your blog. Also I can tell that you don’t get off the farm to often. LOL Thanks for sharing all the Asian good stuff. Fortunately I have an Asian market right down the street!

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Sara On Thursday, June 25 at 10:45 am

What, no Tomato Pretz?
I saw this at the Bubble Tea place yesterday, I haven’t had the courage to sample it yet!

Rachel On Thursday, June 25 at 10:45 am

What? She didn’t send you any of those shrimp-flavored puffy onion-ring type thingies? Shame on her–or not.

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Alison On Thursday, June 25 at 10:48 am

Hello Panda is one of my favoritest things, ever!! You can buy it in HUUUUUUUUGE boxes from Asian Markets, Cost Plus, etc. I also love the little animals that they’re now printing on the Yan Yan sticks (they just recently started doing that). Pocky is great as well. My grandma used to buy Hi-Chews all the time!

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Karen On Thursday, June 25 at 10:48 am

Pocky sticks and Kaui Cookies should be your next taste test!

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Bridget On Thursday, June 25 at 10:50 am

Yan Yan is pocky! No matter what anyone says! Yan Yan is pocky! There is just a “POCKY” brand.

I had that snack all the time as a kid growing up. My parents are both Filipino and so we would go to the Hong Kong Food Market in Houston to get our rice, fish, other assorted meats. And my sisters and I would pick up Yan-Yan. Always called it Yan-Yan and it wasn’t until like… high school when I realized, OH this is pocky.

Bonnie On Thursday, June 25 at 10:51 am

My sister used to live in Tokyo and we are addicted to Hi-Chews! Also, they have a wonderful snack called Pocky-Sticks. Sort of like really skinny pretzels dipped in chocolate (white or dark) and rolled in nuts. They are small, delicious and from the devil!!

My step brother and his other half are reporters in Jakarta. Part of what they blog about is the amazing/odd/frightening/humerous food they have found while living there. Some turns out to be quite yummy, some absolutely disgusting, but it is fun to read about what they find! My current favorite is “chicken chunk spaghetti with corn salsa sauce” that is sold at pizza hut near them. :: shiver::

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Pam Pedersen On Thursday, June 25 at 10:53 am

I love Pocky and Rumi. Those drinks are so much fun!

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Justina On Thursday, June 25 at 10:53 am

I’m not sure if you have Costco out there where you are, but you can get that same brand of dried mangoes there. But just in case you were conned into thinking they would be healthy, they’re totally not. They’re dipped in sugar or something. They’re almost too sweet, but oh so good.

Saturday, April 4: Freezer Fundamentals! While ranch work is going on outside, freezer work is going on inside! I share four more of my favorite freezer basics, which can be made into a whole bunch of different meals.